Content about Bill Simon

May 16, 2013

Same store sales at Walmart's U.S. stores declined 1.4% in the first quarter, but the retailer forecasts comps should rebound during the second quarter.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Same store sales at Walmart's U.S. stores declined 1.4% in the first quarter, but the retailer forecasts comps should rebound during the second quarter. 

Sales were just below Wall Street expectations as the giant retailer struggled with a number of issues that impacted its U.S. sales, from the payroll tax increase to an unseasonably cold spring to delayed tax returns. The discounter also scaled back its earnings expectations for the current three-month period.

May 6, 2013

A new ad campaign that seeks to show "the real Walmart" from the perspective of customers, employees and suppliers is sure to ignite renewed debate over the company’s impact.

A new ad campaign that seeks to show "the real Walmart" from the perspective of customers, employees and suppliers is sure to ignite renewed debate over the company’s impact.

March 7, 2013

Walmart will open as many as 115 small-format stores this year, according to Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S.

NEW YORK — Walmart will open as many as 115 small-format stores this year, according to Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S.  

Simon discussed the chain’s store portfolio during a presentation at Raymond James Institutional Investors conference. He noted that Walmart’s smaller-format stores (below 60,000 sq. ft.) are making inroads against dollar stores, supermarkets and drug stores and will play a key role in the company's future.  

“They compete really well against multiple channels,” Simon said.

March 1, 2013

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon should have plenty to say when he addresses investors March 5 at the 34th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference.

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon should have plenty to say when he addresses investors March 5 at the 34th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference.

Simon’s comments precede the Raymond James conference but come roughly two weeks after Walmart reported disappointing top line growth at its U.S. stores by posting 1% comp increase that was at the low end of a forecast range calling for a gain of 1% to 3%. The company also issued a tepid outlook for first quarter growth with comps expected to be flat to up 2%.

February 21, 2013

Walmart overcame a meager 1% same stores sales increase at U.S. stores to deliver better than expected fourth quarter profits on Thursday.

Walmart overcame a meager 1% same stores sales increase at U.S. stores to deliver better than expected fourth quarter profits on Thursday.

The company said total sales increased 3.9% to $127.1 billion compared to $122.3 billion last year. Without the benefit of a favorable currency exchange situation, sales would have increased a lesser 3.7% to $126.8 billion. Full year sales increased by 5% to $466.1 billion compared to last year’s total of $443.8.

January 28, 2013

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) added five industry executives to its board of directors during its semi-annual meeting on Jan. 28 in Los Angeles, Calif.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) added five industry executives to its board of directors during its semi-annual meeting on Jan. 28 in Los Angeles, Calif. Also as a part of the meeting, Walmart president and CEO Bill Simon was re-elected to the board. Executives joining the board are elected to serve two-year terms. 

Joining the RILA board of directors are:

January 17, 2013

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon isn’t running for elected office, but he sure sounded like a politician earlier this week as he laid out a three-tiered plan the retail industry can implement to restore U.S. economic growth.

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon isn’t running for elected office, but he sure sounded like a politician earlier this week as he laid out a three-tiered plan the retail industry can implement to restore U.S. economic growth.

January 15, 2013

Walmart announced its plans to increase domestic sourcing of the products it sells and hire 100,000 honorably discharged veterans in the next five years.

NEW YORK — Walmart announced its plans to increase domestic sourcing of the products it sells and hire 100,000 honorably discharged veterans in the next five years.

Speaking at the National Retail Federation's annual BIG Show, Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon also announced the company is helping part-time associates who want to work full-time make that transition.

November 25, 2012

Protests by organized labor failed to materialize in a meaningful way at Walmart stores over the weekend and the retailer went on to achieve record results.

Protests by organized labor failed to materialize in a meaningful way at Walmart stores over the weekend and the retailer went on to achieve record results.

September 7, 2012

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon was feeling pretty good earlier this week as he reeled off accomplishments and emerging opportunities during a presentation at a Goldman Sachs retail conference.

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon was feeling pretty good earlier this week as he reeled off accomplishments and emerging opportunities during a presentation at a Goldman Sachs retail conference.

Simon appeared at the same conference two years earlier when Walmart was in a very different place in terms of its financial performance and its share price. His presentation this year was markedly different given all that has occurred under his leadership.

August 30, 2012

Everyone who is anyone will be on hand in New York next week for the nineteenth annual Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference so its not surprising that Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon will be in attendance.

Everyone who is anyone will be on hand in New York next week for the nineteenth annual Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference so its not surprising that Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon will be in attendance.

May 24, 2012

Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon delivered an optimistic message about Walmart U.S.’s performance during the first quarter and its potential for the coming year during a presentation at a Morgan Stanley conference in Boston Wednesday. Ahead of the Walmart’s upcoming shareholders’ meeting, Simon talked about leveraging a more efficient supply chain to drive costs down, lower prices and improve traffic and shared insights on the company’s plans for growth in the second quarter and beyond.

Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon delivered an optimistic message about Walmart U.S.’s performance during the first quarter and its potential for the coming year during a presentation at a Morgan Stanley conference in Boston Wednesday. Ahead of the Walmart’s upcoming shareholders’ meeting, Simon talked about leveraging a more efficient supply chain to drive costs down, lower prices and improve traffic and shared insights on the company’s plans for growth in the second quarter and beyond.

May 21, 2012

Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon will provide an update on the company's U.S. business at the Morgan Stanley Retail and Restaurants Conference in Boston on Wednesday, May 23.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon will provide an update on the company's U.S. business at the Morgan Stanley Retail and Restaurants Conference in Boston on Wednesday, May 23.

The presentation will be webcast live through links at http://www.walmartstores.com/investors and a transcript will be available later in the week. The materials will be archived for one year on the company’s website.

May 21, 2012

Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon will provide an update on the company's U.S. business at the Morgan Stanley Retail and Restaurants Conference in Boston on Wednesday, May 23.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon will provide an update on the company's U.S. business at the Morgan Stanley Retail and Restaurants Conference in Boston on Wednesday, May 23.

The presentation will be webcast live through links at http://www.walmartstores.com/investors and a transcript will be available later in the week. The materials will be archived for one year on the company’s website.

March 2, 2012

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon has the coolest job in the world, and he explained why during a luncheon presentation Thursday at the Cross Church in Rogers Ark. where he touched on his military career, being exceptional and overcoming evil.

Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon has the coolest job in the world, and he explained why during a luncheon presentation Thursday at the Cross Church in Rogers Ark. where he touched on his military career, being exceptional and overcoming evil.

February 21, 2012

Walmart’s U.S. stores division regained customer traffic during the fourth quarter to post a 1.5% same-store sales increase and continues gather momentum as familiar strategies and effective marketing are resonating with customers, the company said Tuesday morning in conjunction with the release of quarterly results.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart’s U.S. stores division regained customer traffic during the fourth quarter to post a 1.5% same-store sales increase and continues gather momentum as familiar strategies and effective marketing are resonating with customers, the company said Tuesday morning in conjunction with the release of quarterly results.

October 17, 2011

Competing with Walmart is nothing new for Target, but what appears to be different this holiday season compared with the last few years is, to borrow a football metaphor, Walmart has eliminated its turnovers and is now showing some signs of momentum.

Competing with Walmart is nothing new for Target, but what appears to be different this holiday season compared with the last few years is, to borrow a football metaphor, Walmart has eliminated its turnovers and is now showing some signs of momentum.

At least that’s what the retailer told financial analysts gathered in Northwest Arkansas last week for an all-day meeting. 

October 12, 2011

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Two years of declining same-store sales at Walmart are poised to end next month when the retailer reports third quarter results that reflect positive momentum from a wide range of initiatives put in place during the past 12 months, judging from comments made by senior executives during an all day meeting with analysts on Wednesday.

October 6, 2011

Americans spent lots of money on apparel in September, and that could be good news for Walmart where last we heard from stores division president and CEO Bill Simon apparel was a key areas where he was confident the retailer would see ongoing improvement during the back half of the year.

Americans spent lots of money on apparel in September, and that could be good news for Walmart where last we heard from stores division president and CEO Bill Simon apparel was a key areas where he was confident the retailer would see ongoing improvement during the back half of the year.

September 1, 2011

Walmart U.S. President and CEO Bill Simon addressed attendees at the American Legion's 93rd National Convention on Wednesday, telling fellow Americans, veterans and Legionnaires that Walmart would create jobs in the U.S. by hiring more than 15,000 people to work in about 100 new and expanded Walmart stores by fiscal year's end.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart U.S. President and CEO Bill Simon addressed attendees at the American Legion's 93rd National Convention on Wednesday, telling fellow Americans, veterans and Legionnaires that Walmart would create jobs in the U.S. by hiring more than 15,000 people to work in about 100 new and expanded Walmart stores by fiscal year's end.

August 18, 2011

Blend equal parts easy prior year comparisons, the recent easing of gas prices with the pass through of product inflation , and Walmart could be looking at the recipe for same-store sales growth.

Blend equal parts easy prior year comparisons, the recent easing of gas prices with the pass through of product inflation , and Walmart could be looking at the recipe for same-store sales growth. If not in the third quarter, then certainly by the fourth quarter, which is the line in the sand the company has drawn for its U.S. business.

August 16, 2011

Despite the absence of top line growth at Walmart’s U.S. stores division, second quarter earnings grew 12.4% to $1.09 and came in a penny ahead of analysts’ estimates, which was enough for the company to narrow and increase the range of its full year profit forecast.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Despite the absence of top line growth at Walmart’s U.S. stores division, second quarter earnings grew 12.4% to $1.09 and came in a penny ahead of analysts’ estimates, which was enough for the company to narrow and increase the range of its full year profit forecast.

July 22, 2011

It is logical that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. president and CEO Mike Duke would top Supermarket News’ Power 50 list of the food industry’s most influential executives. The company sells more food, by a large margin, than anyone else, therefore a case could be made that Duke, or whoever is CEO of Walmart, should top the publication’s list each year.

It is logical that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. president and CEO Mike Duke would top Supermarket News’ Power 50 list of the food industry’s most influential executives. The company sells more food, by a large margin, than anyone else, therefore a case could be made that Duke, or whoever is CEO of Walmart, should top the publication’s list each year.

June 16, 2011

Walmart is moving forward with what could be characterized as a roll out of its Neighborhood Market format nearly 13 years after the first unit opened in the fall of 1998.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is moving forward with what could be characterized as a roll out of its Neighborhood Market format nearly 13 years after the first unit opened in the fall of 1998. Just don’t call it a Neighborhood Market.

June 6, 2011

Driving same-store sales at U.S. stores is the top priority of Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon and his boss, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., president and CEO Mike Duke. Both executives stated U.S. comp growth is their top priority on Friday and went on to add that they are confident the company has the right strategy and people in place to make it happen.

Driving same-store sales at U.S. stores is the top priority of Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon and his boss, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., president and CEO Mike Duke. Both executives stated U.S. comp growth is their top priority on Friday and went on to add that they are confident the company has the right strategy and people in place to make it happen.